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Owendale to ship into Saratoga for G1 Runhappy Travers following final Churchill work

by NYRA Press Office

• Mott's Travers Racing Festival contingent scheduled to work this weekend
• Game Winner to miss G1 Runhappy Travers
• Special Relativity steps up for G1 Ketel One Ballerina
• Doyle excited to make Saratoga debut
• Bourbon War slated for turf debut in Better Talk Now
• Rusty Arnold looking to end Spa visit rejuvenated

Rupp Racing's Owendale will have one final work in Kentucky before travelling to Saratoga next week for the 150th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers, trainer Brad Cox said Thursday morning.

The Runhappy Travers will be run on Saturday, August 24 as the centerpiece of a card featuring seven stakes and six Grade 1s, including the Grade 1, $850,000 Sword Dancer; Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign presented by Lia Infiniti; Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina; Grade 1, $600,000 Forego presented by Encore Boston Harbor; and Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial presented by Runhappy. Rounding out the blockbuster card is the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa.

Owendale, the third-place Preakness finisher who has compiled a 4-1-2 record through 10 career starts, will be making his first start at the Spa and is coming off a half-length win over Math Wizard in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby on June 22 at Thistledown in his last start.

"He's doing great. He's going to breeze Saturday at Churchill and fly to Saratoga on Tuesday," Cox said. "We thought all along that he could be a horse who matures with age, and he has. He's responded well. If everything goes well Saturday with the breeze, which we expect it to, he should be ready for the 24th."

The Into Mischief colt started his sophomore campaign with a win against optional claimers on January 17 at Fair Grounds and stepped up to stakes company with an eighth-place finish in the Grade 2 Risen Star at the same track in February.

Owendale notched his first stakes win next out in the Grade 3 Lexington at 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland, setting him up for his first start in a Classic when he earned black type behind Everfast and winner War of Will in the Grade 1 Preakness on May 18 at Pimlico, marking Cox's first on-the-board finish in a Triple Crown race.

Out of that effort, Owendale earned a personal-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure in besting the six-horse Ohio Derby field at 1 1/8 miles. He will now stretch out to the Travers distance of 1 ¼ miles for the first time.

"With Bernardini on the mare side and having Into Mischief, there's probably a little bit of a question mark with a mile and a quarter, but he's a big, leggy horse who covers a lot of ground, so we're optimistic," Cox said.

Mylady Curlin, originally listed a possible contender for the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign on Travers Day, will instead run in the $200,000 Lady Jacqueline on Saturday in Thistledown, Cox said.

The 4-year-old Curlin filly is coming off back-to-back stakes wins, topping Golden Award by a nose in the Grade 3 DuPont Distaff on May 17 at Pimlico and cruising to a 3 ¾-length win in the Mari Hulman George Memorial on July 13 at Indiana Grand Race Course.

Cheynne Stables' Ulele is coming off a pair of tough-running seconds, including a hard-running stretch-drive duel against Point of Honor in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan on May 17 at Pimlico in which she was second-best by a half-length.

After running second to Lady Apple by a half-length in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks, the Candy Ride filly will get another chance against both Lady Apple and Point of Honor in a talented 11-horse field of sophomore fillies in Saturday's 139th running of the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama presented by NYRA Bets.

Ulele will have the services of jockey Joel Rosario, who had the mount in the Black-Eyed Susan on the eve of the Preakness.

"We're very excited. She's training well and came up from Churchill and settled in fine, so we'll see what happens," Cox said. "Joel has rode her one time and did a great job on her, so we're hoping for a similar effort to be competitive with that group."

Ulele broke her maiden at third asking on January 27 at Oaklawn and made her stakes debut an impressive one in the 1 1/8-mile Black-Eyed Susan when she outkicked pacesetter Cookie Dough by 2 ¼ lengths for second in the longest race she's contested in seven career starts.

Stretching out to 1 ¼ miles, Ulele, who carries a 2-3-2 record in seven starts into the weekend, has two wins and two runner-up efforts in five starts going at least 1 1/16 miles. She drew post 6 for the Alabama.

"It's fine. Going a mile and a quarter, we have a long run to the first turn, so I don't think post position is that big of a deal," Cox said.

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Mott's Travers Racing Festival contingent scheduled to work this weekend

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is slated for plenty of stakes action for the Travers Racing Festival, most notably with dual graded stakes winner Tacitus, who is looking to earn his first Grade 1 victory when competing in the Travers.

Tacitus captured the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by NYRA Bets ahead of a Triple Crown run that included being placed third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and a runner-up effort in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets in June.

Juddmonte Farm's gray or roan son of Tapit, out of 2014 Champion Older Filly Close Hatches, was a troubled second in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by NYRA Bets last out, where he stumbled coming out of the gate and was shuffled back to last.

Tacitus made up considerable ground down the back straight and after finding racing room at the top of the stretch, the colt made a strong bid but could not reel in eventual winner Tax.

Mott also plans on saddling dual Grade 1-winner Channel Maker for the Grade 1, $850,000 Sword Dancer Invitational. The Ontario-bred English Channel chestnut gelding was a close fourth in the Grade 2 Bowling Green on July 27 last out, where he was fourth, beaten three-quarters of a length as the lukewarm favorite.

Mott said that both horses will put together their final preparations for next Saturday this upcoming weekend.

"Tacitus is doing well, he'll probably work over the weekend," Mott said. "He fell on his face last time and had a wide trip in the Belmont, but I think at this point we have to consider ourselves lucky that he didn't do a somersault in the last race. Things happen. You get hung up wide and you just hope it works out better the next time."

A nine-time leading trainer at the Spa, Mott will be seeking his first victory in the "Mid-Summer Derby."

Mott will attempt to tackle a fourth Sword Dancer victory, having won with Theatrical (1987), Fraise (1992) and Broadway Flyer (1996).

"Channel Maker will probably work on the weekend as well," Mott said. "He's a difficult horse to ride. He ran a good race [in the Bowling Green] and I don't want to make too many excuses. He was heads up for the lead turning for home."

Mott could double up in the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign presented by Lia Infiniti. A three-time winner of the 1 1/8-mile event for older fillies and mares, Mott will saddle dual Grade 1 winner Elate as well as Golden Award.

Owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschnieder, Elate will enter the Personal Ensign off of two Grade 2 victories in the Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs and the Delaware Handicap, which she won for a second straight year.

Summer Wind Equine's Golden Award was a winner of the Grade 3 Shuvee at Saratoga last out. The Medaglia d'Oro bay is a half-sister to 2012 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another.

"They will also probably work on the weekend, Sunday or Monday maybe," Mott said. "We haven't set it up yet but they're all scheduled to have a breeze."

Mott said he is considering the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa for graded stakes winner Mitchell Road, who recently was fifth in the Grade 1 Diana. Mrs. J.V. Shield's and E.J. McFadden's half-sister to Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Country House was never off the board in her prior seven starts, which included victories in the Grade 3 Gallorette at Pimlico and the Albert M. Stall Memorial at Fair Grounds.

"I'm going to look at it and see what the competition looks like. I would only be 50-50 at this point," Mott said.

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Game Winner to miss G1 Runhappy Travers

Gary and Mary West's multiple graded-stakes winner Game Winner will miss his next scheduled start in the 150th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers due to a virus, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said.

"We're still absorbing the disappointment," said Baffert. "He's going to be fine, but it's the timing."

Game Winner posted a six-furlong breeze in 1:12 flat on Tuesday at Del Mar, but Baffert said the reigning Eclipse Award-champion 2-Year-Old was not being his usual self on Thursday morning.

"He worked great, but today he had a little temperature," said Baffert. "There's been a little virus going through the barn. He was my second one this week. I hope it stays away from the others."

Game Winner won three Grade 1 races in a spectacular 2-year-old campaign that include a victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. After finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, Game Winner made a tremendous return to the winner's circle with a five-length score in the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby.

Baffert said he was uncertain where the 3-year-old Candy Ride colt would run next.

"It's too bad because he couldn't be doing better right now," added Baffert. "I haven't thought about anything now."

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Special Relativity steps up for G1 Ketel One Ballerina

M and M Racing's Special Relativity, a perfect 4-for-4 at Saratoga, will make her graded stakes debut in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina on Travers Day.

Trained by Robertino Diodoro, the 4-year-old Cowboy Cal bay is a veteran of 20 career starts with a record of 7-3-3. The talented filly has raced, and won, twice at the current meet including a last-out score in the Shine Again at the seven-furlong Ballerina distance.

Diodoro said Special Relativity seems to be more relaxed at Saratoga.

"I think it's a little bit of the atmosphere here. Most horses do like it at Saratoga, but she's a little high-strung, and maybe she just likes the country atmosphere where we're stabled on the Oklahoma side," said Diodoro. "There's lots of trees and grass and she can graze at feed time. Other places aren't set up like Saratoga is, but a few of those things are certainly to her benefit.

"She also likes the deeper track," added Diodoro. "She works well over it in the mornings and her record at Saratoga speaks for itself."

Diodoro said Special Relativity, who earned a career-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure for her Shine Again win, is racing to her excellent training efforts in the morning.

"She ran exactly the way she was training into it," said Diodoro. "She trained and worked her best going into that race and she ran one of her best races for us. All horses, but I think especially on the female side, when you get them on track and have talent, they have a tendency to get on a bit of a roll.

"She's on a roll right now," continued Diodoro. "Her weight is good. Her coat looks great, and we couldn't ask for her to be feeling any better. She's a mare that loves her job and likes to train."

Claimed for $50,000 out of a winning effort on May 19, 2018 at Churchill Downs, Special Relativity has now won five races for new connections.

Diodoro said a solid pace expected in the Ballerina would play to Special Relativity's strengths as she makes her Grade 1 debut under regular pilot David Cohen.

"Her best running style is when there's some speed in there and she can settle in behind," said Diodoro. "Hopefully, we get a little bit of racing luck and Cohen can get her out and run them down."

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Doyle excited to make Saratoga debut

Jockey Sophie Doyle is hoping her first visit to the Spa is one that comes with a Grade 1 victory.

Doyle, 33, has ridden at some of the world's most prestigious racetracks including, Churchill Downs, Ascot, Newmarket and Nad al Sheba. But on Saturday, she will break her Saratoga maiden when she pilots Street Band in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama presented by NYRA Bets.

The Cambridge, England native began riding in her native country before venturing to Dubai for two winters and, subsequently, moved to the United States. During her current tenure in North America, she has ridden at Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Santa Anita and currently is based at Arlington Park in Chicago, but said she has always watched the racing at Saratoga from afar and is excited to finally be a part of a big race at the prestigious racetrack.

"It's absolutely brilliant to be on the big stage at Saratoga. I've watched racing there for many, many years so I'm delighted that I have the chance to ride there in a Grade 1," Doyle said. "[To win] would be pretty spectacular and I've been fortunate that I was able to race out in Dubai at the historic Nad al Sheba. That was a dream come true and it's similar to Saratoga. After watching races there for so many years and watching Rosie Napravnik do so well, it's nice to be there myself and it would be a tremendous day with a big race. It would be great for my career and I'm thankful for everyone who's gotten me there."

Street Band is owned by trainer Larry Jones in partnership with wife Cindy as well as Ray Francis, Medallion Racing and MyRacehorse Stable and has already provided one "first" for Doyle when giving the rider her first mount in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, where she finished sixth. The daughter of Istan rebounded next out with an impressive victory in the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks last month, garnering an 88 Beyer Speed Figure.

Street Band began her year with an upset win in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks in March and was a narrow allowance winner in her second start going two turns.

Doyle has piloted Street Band in her last seven starts and said that the filly has developed well over the year.

"She's developed really nicely," said Doyle. "It's quite a nice relationship that I've developed from the Fair Grounds when she was starting over five-and-a-half. We stepped her up to a mile [and 70 yards] and she ran third again.

"She came back and won the allowance and really showed her guts the day she dug in. She's just kept on progressing," continued Doyle. "In the Fair Grounds Oaks she settled down and did everything right and won it in good fashion. As we carried on throughout the year, the Kentucky Oaks was obviously very tough. We had a rough trip ended up on the outside, but she still ran her race and I was really happy with her."

Doyle worked Street Band on Monday morning, where she went five furlongs in 59.80 over the main track at Churchill Downs.

"They decided to freshen her up and go for the Indiana Oaks and she bounced back to good form, and her works since then have been really well done," Doyle said. "Her work on Monday morning is exactly what we wanted to see with her. Galloped out in really good fashion. Stretching out to a mile and a quarter it was exactly what you want to see."

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Bourbon War slated for turf debut in Better Talk Now

After competing in the final two legs of the Triple Crown, graded-stakes placed Bourbon War is scheduled to make his turf debut in the $100,000 Better Talk Now on Sunday, August 25 for trainer Mark Hennig.

Owned by Bourbon Lane Stable and Lake Star Stable, the sophomore son of Tapit has worked twice over the Oklahoma turf training track. He most recently went five furlongs in 1:01.55 on Sunday, August 11.

Bourbon War, a respective eighth and tenth in the Grade 1 Preakness and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, is out of My Conquestadory, who was a Grade 2 winner on turf in her career debut. A strong allowance victory over the main track at Gulfstream Park and a runner-up in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth prompted Hennig to keep him on the main track.

"He worked well on grass a couple of times," Hennig said. "We've always had that in the back of our minds. Everyone wants to be on the Triple Crown trail and when he won the allowance race at Gulfstream, it kind of set us on that path. It looked like as his distances have gone further, his need for the turf may have gotten bigger. We're going to give it a try and hopefully get him back on a winning track."

Another horse from the Hennig barn switching over to the turf is Strike Power for Donald and Donna Adam's Courtlandt Farms. The chestnut son of Speightstown, who was fifth in the Grade 1 A.G. Vanderbilt last out, could race in the $100,000 Lucky Coin on August 30.

While Strike Power is possible for the 5 ½-furlong turf sprint, he is not ruled out of consideration for the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego presented by Encore Boston Harbor.

"He's nominated to the Lucky Coin so we may do that," Hennig said. "I wouldn't say definitely a no in the Forego. We'll see who else is running."

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Rusty Arnold looking to end Spa visit rejuvenated

Trainer Rusty Arnold has had a productive summer, highlighted by multiple graded-stakes winning 3-year-old filly Concrete Rose remaining unbeaten in four starts this year impressively taking the second leg of the inaugural NYRA Turf Tiara series in the Saratoga Oaks and 4-year-old Leinster winning the Grade 3 Troy.

Heading into the final three weeks of the meet, Arnold will look to close out the stand with a number of talented runners including Morticia set to compete in Saturday's $100,000 Smart N Fancy, as well as 3-year-old Borracho under consideration for the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens.

"It's been a good month up here for us so far," said Arnold. "I've had good summers as well as bad one's up here, but I can say we certainly appreciate this one right now."

In Saturday's Smart N Fancy, Arnold said he is hoping the weather cooperates for Morticia, who was third in the Caress in her most recent start.

"We're hoping the weather can hold up through this weekend," said Arnold. "We're hoping to get a better trip with Morticia and hopefully the weather won't compromise her chances."

Graded-stakes placed Borracho for owner Preston Madden will point towards the H. Allen Jerkens coming off a 1 ¾ length allowance victory on July 21 at Saratoga. The Uncle Mo colt has two wins from six starts this year, including a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park on June 8.

"He's continued to do well coming off his allowance victory," said Arnold. "He came out of his work last Friday in good order and we're pointing towards the H. Allen Jerkens. Having that allowance win over the track certainly gives us confidence going in."

Lastly, Arnold reported Concrete Rose would return the work tab sometime next week for her first breeze since winning the Saratoga Oaks. The talented filly is a perfect 4-for-4 this year, including graded stakes wins in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational, first leg of the Turf Tiara, the Grade 3 Edgewood at Churchill Downs and Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay.

"She's continuing to do well," said Arnold. "We'll look to have her back on the work tab next week and point for the final leg of the Turf Tiara at Belmont."

The final leg of the Turf Tiara, the $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks, is a 1 3/8-mile test slated for Saturday, September 7.